Misplaced Pages

Emotion
Studio album by Papa Wemba
Released	1995
Studio	Real World, Box, Wiltshire Studio Guillaume Tell, Suresnes
Length	38:16
Label	Real World
Producer	Stephen Hague
Papa Wemba chronology
Foridoles (1994) Emotion (1995) Pôle Position (1995)

Emotion is an album by the Congolese singer Papa Wemba, released in 1995. Wemba sang mostly in Lingala.

The album peaked at No. 14 on Billboard's World Albums chart. Wemba promoted it by touring North America.

Production

The album was produced by Stephen Hague. "Fa Fa Fa Fa Fa (Sad Song)", a duet with Juliet Roberts, is a cover of the Otis Redding song; Redding was Wemba's favorite singer. Jean-Philippe Rykiel played keyboards on Emotion. Wemba addresses racism on "Epelo", heartbreak on "Ah Ouais", and the dangers in the world on "Sala Keba".

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Calgary Herald	A
Robert Christgau	A−
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music
Houston Press
MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide

The Guardian wrote that "Wemba's singing is high, relaxed and fine as ever, whether he's tackling a synth-backed funky dance piece, or switching to a guitar-backed ballad." Robert Christgau stated: "Piercing and penetrating without a hint of muezzin, he also commands a 'natural,' 'conversational' timbre richer and rangier than that of his more soft-sung Zairean colleagues."

The Toronto Star noted that "soukous purists likely won't have it... But terrific listening for everyone else." The Calgary Herald determined that "the propulsive, rolling polyrythmic rhythms here owe as much to western pop as to Wemba's Zairean traditions." The Houston Press concluded that "Hague insured that Wemba's vocals took center stage on each tune, turning down the driving African percussion just a notch."

AllMusic wrote that, "in mixing his unique brand of African soukous with various Western influences, Papa Wemba took a bold step into the international pop market already populated by Senegalese singing sensations Youssou N'Dour and Baaba Maal."

Track listing

References

1. Taylor, Timothy Dean; Taylor, John D. (March 21, 1997). Global Pop: World Music, World Markets. Psychology Press. ISBN 9780415918725.
2. "Papa Wemba Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
3. White, Bob W. (June 27, 2008). Rumba Rules: The Politics of Dance Music in Mobutu's Zaire. Duke University Press. ISBN 978-0822389262.
4. Daly, Mike (March 2, 1995). "Wemba brings consolation from Womad". Green Guide. The Age. p. 17.
5. "Papa Wemba". Billboard.
6. Gordon, Tom (June 18, 1995). "Zaire's Dapper, Dancing Dude Claims South as an Inspiration: Come to Papa". The Birmingham News. p. 1F.
7. Akyeampong, Emmanuel Kwaku; Gates (Jr.), Henry Louis (February 2, 2012). Dictionary of African Biography. OUP USA. ISBN 978-0-19-538207-5.
8. ^ MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 2000. p. 806.
9. Winders, J. (June 5, 2007). Paris Africain: Rhythms of the African Diaspora. Springer. ISBN 9780230602076.
10. Elder, Bruce (May 8, 1995). "Bubbling with sheer joy and energy". The Guide. The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 12.
11. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 8. MUZE. p. 586.
12. Levesque, Roger (25 June 1995). "Papa Wemba's emotional cries spring from deep in Zaire". Edmonton Journal. p. E1.
13. ^ Denselow, Robin (17 Mar 1995). "World Music". The Guardian. p. T13.
14. ^ "Emotion". AllMusic.
15. ^ Tremblay, Mark (21 May 1995). "Recordings". Calgary Herald. p. F1.
16. ^ "Papa Wemba". Robert Christgau.
17. ^ Torre, Olivia (May 25, 1995). "Sound Check". Music. Houston Press.
18. "Papa Wemba Emotion". Toronto Star. 13 May 1995. p. J14.

• Papa Wemba albums
• 1995 albums
• Real World Records albums
• Albums produced by Stephen Hague